Here are the lyrics to one stanza of the English drinking song on which the Star-Spangled Banner is solidly based:
The news through Olympus immediately flew;
When Old Thunder pretended to give himself Airs
If these Mortals are suffer'd their Scheme to pursue,
The Devil a Goddess will stay above Stairs.
"Hark! already they cry,
"In Transports of Joy
"Away to the Sons of Anacreon we'll fly,
"And there, with good Fellows, we'll learn to intwine
"The Myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's Vine.
Visit the link above for the full lyrics.
Apparently, it was de rigeur in colonial days to write new lyrics to existing songs. And in 1812, Francis Scott Key concretized that characteristic American tendency to plagiarize in our national anthem.
Click here for a midi file of the song (which sounds exactly like our national anthem).
